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July 21, 2012

G95: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 3

Jarrod Saltalamacchia's three-run home run (#18) in the second inning gave Boston an early lead, but the Red Sox managed only two hits after that blast, and dropped another game to the last-place Blue Jays.

Edwin Encarnacion tied the game with a two-run bomb off Cook (6.1-4-5-1-1, 86) in the sixth and J.P. Arencibia gave Toronto a 4-3 lead with a solo shot to start the seventh. Brett Lawrie knocked in two insurance runs in that inning. (Two of the five runs allowed by Cook were unearned.)

The Red Sox's second started strongly with a single by Adrian Gonzalez, a double from Cody Ross, and Salty's dong into the Jays' pen. But Villanueva (6.1-4-3-2-5, 101) and three Toronto relievers slammed the door after that, allowing only two hits (one of which was a bunt single by Pedro Ciriaco) and two walks. No Boston runner ventured past second base.

Ross walked and went to second on a wild pitch in the fourth, but Salty struck out and Will Middlebrooks lined into a 6-4 double play. In the fifth, Ciriaco's single and a walk to Daniel Nava put runners on first and second with one out, but Carl Crawford lined to left and Pedroia grounded to shortstop.

Villanueva has not allowed a run in his last two starts, both six-inning efforts, against Kansas City and Cleveland. He has allowed only seven hits in those 12 innings.

In his last three starts (22 innings), Cook has a 1.23 ERA. Here's an oddity: in 29.2 innings pitched this season, Cook has only two walks and two strikeouts.

Hot: In 22 games since June 23, Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .411, and has raised his average nearly thirty points, to .295. ... Cold: Jarrod Saltalamacchia is in an 0-for-14 slump and is only 1-for-25 over his last eight games, and 8-for-61 (.131) since June 25 (with 27 strikeouts in 17 games).